37 
Turkey - a challenge for birdwatchers. Dogal Hayati Koruma Dernegl 
(DHKD) 1989, 23 pages. Available from OSME Sales price £2.00, 
This attractive booklet was prepare on the occasion of the XVII ICBP 
European Continental Section Conference in Adana in May 1989. The 
booklet, which is well illustrated with colour photographs and maps, 
provides an excellent taster of the delights and excitement of 
birdwatching in Turkey. Turkey's natural environment is under tremendous 
pressure from population growth and agricultural, tourist and industrial 
developments so it is not surprising that the theme of the booklet is the 
conservation of Turkey's natural resources. 
The booklet begins by explaining what DHKD (the Society for the Protection 
of Wildlife; does and a brief history of nature conservation in Turkey 
together with some recent conservation activities. The booklet maps 25 of 
the most important bird areas of Turkey and subsequently describes two of 
them in detail (the Sultan Marshes and the G'dksu Delta). The birds and 
other wildlife are described. This is followed by an important section on 
the threats to the areas and what is being done to counter them. Finally 
there is a useful section on where to go; I wish I had had this booklet 
when I visited the Sultan Marshes! 
The sad story of the Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita , now apparently extinct 
as a wild breeding species in Turkey, emphasises the importance of Turkey 
for birds and the need for effective conservation. 
While this booklet is aimed principally at birdwatchers, there is much in 
it of interest to all conservationists. In addition, it is a useful and 
reasonably priced educational resource for students studying geography, 
biology and general science for public examinations in Great Britain. It 
could find a market in education as well as amongst birdwatchers. 
All the profit from the sale of this booklet by OSME goes straight to 
DHKD, so buying a copy will directly assist conservation in Turkey. 
Simon Albrecht 
